FG Halts Lagoon and Island C-of-O Approvals, Orders Resubmission to OSGOF
The Federal Government has suspended all pending and previously approved Certificates of Occupancy (C-of-O) for developments on Nigeria’s islands and lagoon areas, directing applicants to resubmit their requests to the Office of the Surveyor-General of the Federation (OSGOF).
The directive, issued by President Bola Tinubu on 30 July 2025, centralises shoreline development approvals under OSGOF as part of efforts to enforce the National Geospatial Data Infrastructure Policy.
Under the new mandate, all ministries, departments, and agencies involved in land allocation along shorelines must route approvals through OSGOF. The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has also been instructed to submit existing permits to OSGOF and suspend the issuance of fresh allocations.
The Surveyor-General, Abudulmutallib Adegbite, confirmed the measure in Abuja, stressing that the move is designed to address overlapping approvals and improve regulatory oversight.
Enforcement and Penalties
According to OSGOF, any shoreline development carried out without adherence to the new procedure risks revocation or demolition. These sanctions are backed by the Survey Coordination Act, Cap S13 of 2004, which empowers the Surveyor-General to regulate and monitor geospatial data collection and land survey activities nationwide. Developers with past or pending approvals have been advised to resubmit documentation to align with the new policy framework.
Link to Previous Warnings
The directive follows earlier warnings from the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, who in December 2024 gave a one-month deadline to NIWA and other agencies to resolve jurisdictional conflicts over shoreline allocations. That deadline passed without clear resolution, raising concerns among stakeholders over regulatory clarity in waterfront developments.
Implications for Investors and Developers
By consolidating approvals under a single authority, the Federal Government aims to establish a unified approach to shoreline land use and reduce conflicts between agencies. While the policy could enhance long-term planning and sustainability, it may also delay ongoing projects as developers navigate resubmission processes.
Industry observers note that the measure could tighten compliance costs and extend approval timelines, particularly for large-scale housing and infrastructure projects sited near coastal and lagoon areas.
The suspension signals a broader attempt to harmonise land governance in Nigeria’s high-value coastal zones. Investors and developers are expected to closely monitor OSGOF’s next steps, as the centralisation of shoreline approvals could reshape the regulatory environment for housing supply, urban expansion, and infrastructure delivery in Lagos and other coastal states.
